Thermal Drones Mark Significant Advance in Seal Surveys

Conservationists have stated that novel drone technology significantly advanced data collection efforts concerning seals on the Calf of Man during the current year, calling it a “game-changer.” The 10-week survey documented and observed 98 seal pups, marking the highest count since data collection commenced in 2009. Lara Howe, a marine officer with the Manx Wildlife Trust, explained that while seals are “very well camouflaged against the rocks,” thermal imaging technology rendered them “super easy to spot.” She further noted the significance of these surveys, as they provide the trust with an insight into the “overall health of the ecosystem,” given that these animals “help to keep it in balance.” The trust indicated that the observations, compiled from drone footage, enhance the comprehension of seal population dynamics and regional habitat conservation initiatives. Dr. Howe elaborated that the recently acquired thermal imaging drone, funded by several local groups and organizations, facilitated easier identification of seals and allowed for the collection of additional data. She added that this technology empowered researchers to detect and enumerate seals using their heat signatures from an “unobtrusive distance, even in poor visibility conditions.” This method, according to the marine officer, prevented disturbance to the seals, resulting in “more accurate behavioural observations and population counts,” including observations during their most vulnerable states, such as suckling with their pup. She also expressed the aspiration to deploy the drone for “island-wide seal surveys in the future too.” The trust highlighted that grey seals exhibit high sensitivity to human presence, especially during crucial periods such as the pupping season. It noted that disturbances could lead seals to abandon their offspring, interfere with breeding activities, and modify their behavior. The trust further emphasized that initiatives to lessen human impacts on seal habitats are “crucial” for the ongoing preservation of the Calf of Man’s seal population.